Before Napoleon came to power in 1799, France was in
political, social and in economic crisis. What was achieved during the course
of the revolution disappeared during the reign of terror and during the
directorate government. There was inflation, unemployment, financial and
religious crisis, power struggles and chaos. When he came, he corrected the
wrong in the society
1.
The concordat in 1801
This was an agreement that Napoleon signed with the Pope in
1801. Before Napoleon came to power, the revolutionary reforms such as the
nationalization of church land, declaration of civil constitution of the clergy
etc turned the Catholic Church into enemity with the revolutionaries. Napoleon
reconciled the church land and the state as he remarked “A state without
religion is like a vessel without a compass”. This agreement was important
because;
·
It made the catholic to be the state religion
·
The agreement guaranteed the freedom of worship
·
The church influence of the state affairs was
ended
·
According to the agreement, the clergy became
civil servants who were paid and appointed by the
